Bangladesh government squishing freedom of speech by arresting and harassing young bloggers inside the country

To whom it may concern

We are drawing your attention to an ominous development that is taking place right now in Bangladesh. To appease a handful of radical islamist preachers, the government has embarked on a campaign to curtail freedom of speech. To this effect, the police under government dictate have arrested three bloggers (Subrata Adhikari Shuvo, Mashiur Rahman Biplob and Rasel Parvez) in Dhaka, and then several others including one popular atheist blogger, Asif Mohiuddin in the following day. They were interrogated by police and further remanded in custody for seven more days. Torture in police custody is commonplace in Bangladesh for the detainees, often to extract incriminating statements. This time, several hapless bloggers are at the receiving end of government’s wrath. The government claims that these young bloggers have offended Islam and Muhammad, Islam’s holy prophet. It is worth noting that Bangladesh has no blasphemy law and the nation’s constitution allows the “freedom of thought, conscience and expression” as a fundamental right. In the aftermath of a popular protest in February and March 2013 known as Shahbag Movement, which was organized by bloggers and cyber writers, a section of Islamists have waged a disinformation campaign to label the bloggers ‘atheists’. The government is now trying to appease these Islamists. The government has made a list of nearly 100 bloggers and cyber forum participants who they labeled atheists and defamers of Islam. Through interview given to popular press, a spokesperson for the government has announced that the government will arrest and prosecute these “errant” bloggers. Although there is no law against atheism in Bangladesh, the government is persecuting these bloggers on charges of offending Islam and its Prophet. The government has already blocked a few popular websites to curtail free flow of information and promises to do even more to appease the Islamists. Since the constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh ensures freedom of speech and expression [article 39 (1, 2) of chapter-3], we believe Bangladesh Government’s heinous action against the popular bloggers is unconstitutional and a gross violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, which clearly states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression”).

We urge you to look into this serious matter and join with us in expressing grave concern so that bloggers and writers are not harassed and persecuted by state machinery because of the views they hold on religion and other such matters. The government has taken this easy route to appease a handful of rouge Mullahs whose support they need to win the upcoming election. We hope you understand the gravity of the situation which is worsening by the day.

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21 Comments on "A Statement from Mukto-Mona: Bangladesh government squishing freedom of speech by arresting and harassing young bloggers inside the country"

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Muktar Ahmed Mukul

2 years 3 months ago

Sohailbhai,

why are you unnecessarily showing your auto-deception? I ask you to re-read the Islam-approved history of Dhimmitude and Zizyya on non-Muslims. Islam was never indifferent towards non-believers. It tried all the tricks and bruit force to convert non-Muslims to Islam.

Sohailbhai can also refer to the command of the Prophet “Fight against the polytheists (read nonbelievers) with your properties, lives and tongues” (Ref: Abu Dawud in Riyad as-Salihin, Vol-II, pp. 217-18).

If you can accept that imposing Dhimmitude and Ziziya on non-Muslims was a compulsion of that time for the Prophet, you can be a rationalist. But your argument reflects something to the contrary. Decide for yourself now.

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@Bhaskar,
9.113: It is not fitting, for the Prophet and those who believe, that they should pray for forgiveness for Pagans, even though they be of kin, after it is clear to them that they are companions of the Fire. ( Yusuf Ali translation ) …. it prescribes the punishment for a non-believer. a Non-believer can not harm or weaken Islam, hence it is little that all mighty cares whether he/ or any one believes or not. Lets just get this ayat straight.. we will talk about others later..
——————————————————The question is not that if non-believers will harm Islam or not. The question is if Islam cares for non-believers or remains indifferent. Why do you change your own context? What about remaining verses referred to?

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Sohail

2 years 3 months ago

@Bhaskar,
Non-believer or believers without virtues both will be companion of fire. Islam is not indifferent between a virtuous believer vs non-believer or a non virtuous believer.

My statement “Islam is so strong that it changes a whole country, little it cares if a non-believer submits or not, even little it cares if the whole world denies it.”.. does not mean non-believer will not be judged. What it means is Islam is not quantified or qualified by how many people do not believe in it. Islam is truth and will remain truth regardless of its deniers.

How this idea plays a role on a personal level? If I am to preach anyone about Islam, it is not my success or failure whether my preaching bear any fruit. My job is only to spread the message of Islam not make people except it. Like one can take a horse to water but can not/should not try to make it drink water.

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Muktar Ahmed

2 years 2 months ago

@Sohail, “Non-believer or believers without virtues both will be companion of fire“- simply bull shit. What ‘fire’ you are talking of? This fire is in your head only. “Islam is not quantified or qualified by how many people do not believe in it“- why apostate from Islam can be killed as per Islamic laws even by his son? What for Jihad (not the internal one) is preached in Islam? Take away your blasphemy laws, loosen the grip of Ulema, let willing Muslims leave Islam, stop the brain conditioning of Muslim children by Huzurs, stop aping Arabic culture, stop thinking non-Muslims as evils and hell goers (as preached under Islamic system) and your Islam will die in a couple of years. I have not told anything incorrect about Islam. “My job is only to spread the message of Islam not make people except it“- do your job. But be truthful. Otherwise you will spread something which is un-Islamic. Islam is demonic and you are trying to wrap it up with glossy cover.

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For Sohail:
Don’t try to dilute the point by citing your limited rights in Bangladesh. Read about the compensation laws of Saudi Arabia in respect of persons of different religions. You justify persecution of Christians in Arab World as “social injustice”. Since when society has been separated from Islam? You again bring word like “precondition” for not getting citizenship in Saudi Arabia. But what could be the reason behind? Whereas in case of much hated countries like US, UK, Australia etc., you can get citizenship with equal rights (not limited rights) as the indigenous people of the countries. How do you doubt my honesty? Have I doubted yours? It is only your perspective Vs mine. Grow up man.

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Sohail

2 years 3 months ago

@Bhaskar,

Lets go over this..

Don’t try to dilute the point by citing your limited rights in Bangladesh. .. “Social Injustice” is a serious issue to me.. don’t know how anything is diluted bc it is labelled as so..

Read about the compensation laws of Saudi Arabia in respect of persons of different religions. .. I do not study Saudi law, neither it is worthy of doing so You justify persecution of Christians in Arab World as “social injustice” .. “Social injustice” equates justification ??? What world do you live in???

Since when society has been separated from Islam? .. and When did I say it??

You again bring word like “precondition” for not getting citizenship in Saudi Arabia. But what could be the reason behind? … Saudi is not worthy of my time.. so lets just drop it

Whereas in case of much hated countries like US, UK, Australia etc., you can get citizenship with equal rights (not limited rights) as the indigenous people of the countries.… it is not too far distant you have to go back to know what equal rights meant for the Blacks, Red Indians and other minorities.

How do you doubt my honesty? Have I doubted yours? It is only your perspective Vs mine. .. how is conditioning your faith/ism means doubting your honesty? What you believe is within your heart. Grow up man. .. don’t know how to make sense out of this..

BOTTOM LINE IS …. you love to translate everything your own way.. may be it is better for you to come out of your encasement and see the real world..

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Muktar Ahmed

2 years 2 months ago

@Sohail,
“Grapes are sour” & so is Saudi Arabia. But you keep on aping Arabic culture. You don’t read Saudi laws but make comments on international issue. When you tell that the persecution of Christians in Arab world is due to ‘social injustice’, you not only justify the persecution of Christians but also take Islam out of the picture. Thus you separate society & Islam. You talk of future problems of black, red Indian and other minorities in US & UK etc.. But what about the present and past? Find out how many Bangladeshi are settled in those countries. You started talking about the ‘honesty’ of a visitor and then distorted the argument. If you cannot make sense out of “Grow up man”- you will never grow up. “…..may be it is better for you to come out of your encasement and see the real world.” What is this? Don’t play too smart.

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Stephanie McMillan

2 years 3 months ago

I will share this to help spread awareness of what’s happening.

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@Sohail, Yes, Islam does very much care if a non-believer does not submit. Read once again Quranic verses, viz: 5.54, 4.89, 8.36-37, 9.29, 9.113 etc., before giving such sweeping statement. These are not Fatwas from any Alim which an educated person like you may question. These are the word of Allah. So please don’t get carried away.

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Sohail

2 years 3 months ago

@Bhaskar,
9.113: It is not fitting, for the Prophet and those who believe, that they should pray for forgiveness for Pagans, even though they be of kin, after it is clear to them that they are companions of the Fire. ( Yusuf Ali translation ) …. it prescribes the punishment for a non-believer. a Non-believer can not harm or weaken Islam, hence it is little that all mighty cares whether he/ or any one believes or not. Lets just get this ayat straight.. we will talk about others later..

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Muktar Ahmed Mukul

2 years 3 months ago

@Sohail, Yes, it cares very much if a non-believer does not submit. Read a few Quranic verses viz: 9.113, 5.54, 4.89, 8.36-37, 9.29 once again. These are not fatwas of any Alim. Allah says so.

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